WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released the following statement today after tobacco conglomerate RJ Reynolds announced that they would be pulling the “Camel Dissolvables” line of smokeless tobacco products—which closely resemble gum or candy packs—from 3 current test markets, including Columbus.
“This successful battle represents one victory in our war on tobacco products marketed at children—but we must remain vigilant,” Brown said. “There is no doubt that many of these smokeless tobacco products are aimed squarely at children. At first glance, smokeless tobacco products like ‘Camel Dissolvables’ look like packs of gum or candy—and that’s exactly what the tobacco companies are aiming for.
“While the removal of the ‘Camel Dissolvables’ products from Columbus stores is an encouraging step, I remain concerned about tobacco companies’ plans to further test or market smokeless ‘tobacco candy’ products in Ohio and elsewhere in the country. I will continue to monitor these dangerous tobacco products and will work to ensure that they stay out of the hands of our children,” Brown continued.
“It’s a great relief to see that products like these that are so appealing to children and easy for them to use without their parents’ knowledge are no longer going to be a potential danger for the children of Ohio. We’re tired of the kids of Ohio being guinea pigs for the tobacco industry, and we applaud Senator Brown for his leadership on taking action against this dangerous product being test marketed in our state,” said Shelly Kiser, Director of Advocacy at the American Lung Association in Ohio.
Brown, while a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, helped author a provision in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Actfocusing on smokeless “tobacco candies.” The amendment, introduced with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), required the new Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee to immediately study the public health effects of tobacco candy, specifically on children, and report to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on their findings. The FDA would then be tasked with acting in the best interest of children nationwide.
In addition, earlier this summer, Brown called on the FDA to immediately remove “tobacco candies” from the market, after the medical journal Pediatrics published a study showing that dissolvable tobacco products—including the ‘Camel Dissolvable’ Orbs, Sticks, and Strips—can poison and cause severe harm or death in children. The study’s authors wrote: “Novel smokeless tobacco products, including dissolvable, compressed tobacco products…are now of major concern, with their discreet form, candy-like appearance and added flavorings that may be attractive to children.”
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